Rangers' offense is unleashed in 7-1 victory over Leafs

By ANDREW GROSS

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

TORONTO – One dominating victory over a Maple Leafs team clearly playing with a Winter Classic hangover does not mean the Rangers have solved their maddening inconsistency, or that Cam Talbot should supplant Henrik Lundqvist.

But it at least showed what the Rangers can do when they manage the puck well.

“I thought we did a much better job in our own zone with and without the puck,” fourth-line center Dominic Moore said after his eighth career two-goal game and first since March 29, 2011. “It’s easier to play offense because you have the puck more of the time. It’s got to be the staple of our game. If it’s not, it’s obvious game to game.”

The Rangers took a season-high 50 shots in setting a season high for goals in a 7-1 win Saturday night at Air Canada Center. It was quick improvement from Friday night’s 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh as they ended their road trip 3-2-0.

“I’m not quite sure if you can put one thing specific on it,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “We moved the puck well, we got some good opportunities and we were able to finish on a couple.”

Every Ranger had at least one shot on net. Every Ranger except for leading scorer Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash and defenseman Anton Stralman had a point and Talbot, who grew up about 90 minutes away in Caldonia, Ont., made 25 saves.

“To be able to do it in front of my family and friends made it pretty special for me,” said Talbot, who had never been in Air Canada Centre prior to Saturday. “It’s a special feeling afterwards when we get the two points but, during the game, it’s just another game for me.”

It marked the second victory for Talbot and the Rangers (21-20-2) over the Maple Leafs (21-17-5) in six games. If the Rangers are to creep into playoff contention, the Maple Leafs will be one of the teams they’ll have to pass.

Talbot stopped two close range chances by Middletown’s James van Riemsdyk in the game’s first minute before the Rangers settled in defensively and Moore’s first goal — a sharp-angle shot from the left that went through Bernier’s pads — made it 2-0 at 15:57 of the third period.

The game, for all intents and purposes, ended when Marc Staal’s pinpoint pass found Benoit Pouliot open at the right post to make it 3-0 at 10:39 of the second period. Moore added his second at 16:35 of the second to make it 5-0 as he cut to the crease from the right to end Bernier’s night after five goals on 32 shots.

Meanwhile, Chris Kreider, who scored his team-high 11th goal, engaged in his first NHL fight against Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf at 13:13 of the third period, a continuation of their jawing not only earlier in the game but from the team’s first game.

“Maybe I should have focused on using my size and getting in front of the net instead of some of the extracurricular stuff but, at the same time, that’s something I want to continue doing,” said Kreider, who has elevated his physical play as the season has progressed.

The lethargic Maple Leafs lost both ex-Devil David Clarkson and defenseman Carl Gunnarsson to first-period injuries.

The Rangers altered their lineup slightly, inserting defenseman Michael Del Zotto for Conor Allen after the rookie played the previous three games.

TORONTO – One dominating victory over a Maple Leafs team clearly playing with a Winter Classic hangover does not mean the Rangers have solved their maddening inconsistency, or that Cam Talbot should supplant Henrik Lundqvist.

But it at least showed what the Rangers can do when they manage the puck well.

“I thought we did a much better job in our own zone with and without the puck,” fourth-line center Dominic Moore said after his eighth career two-goal game and first since March 29, 2011. “It’s easier to play offense because you have the puck more of the time. It’s got to be the staple of our game. If it’s not, it’s obvious game to game.”

The Rangers took a season-high 50 shots in setting a season high for goals in a 7-1 win Saturday night at Air Canada Center. It was quick improvement from Friday night’s 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh as they ended their road trip 3-2-0.

“I’m not quite sure if you can put one thing specific on it,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “We moved the puck well, we got some good opportunities and we were able to finish on a couple.”

Every Ranger had at least one shot on net. Every Ranger except for leading scorer Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash and defenseman Anton Stralman had a point and Talbot, who grew up about 90 minutes away in Caldonia, Ont., made 25 saves.

“To be able to do it in front of my family and friends made it pretty special for me,” said Talbot, who had never been in Air Canada Centre prior to Saturday. “It’s a special feeling afterwards when we get the two points but, during the game, it’s just another game for me.”

It marked the second victory for Talbot and the Rangers (21-20-2) over the Maple Leafs (21-17-5) in six games. If the Rangers are to creep into playoff contention, the Maple Leafs will be one of the teams they’ll have to pass.

Talbot stopped two close range chances by Middletown’s James van Riemsdyk in the game’s first minute before the Rangers settled in defensively and Moore’s first goal — a sharp-angle shot from the left that went through Bernier’s pads — made it 2-0 at 15:57 of the third period.

The game, for all intents and purposes, ended when Marc Staal’s pinpoint pass found Benoit Pouliot open at the right post to make it 3-0 at 10:39 of the second period. Moore added his second at 16:35 of the second to make it 5-0 as he cut to the crease from the right to end Bernier’s night after five goals on 32 shots.

Meanwhile, Chris Kreider, who scored his team-high 11th goal, engaged in his first NHL fight against Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf at 13:13 of the third period, a continuation of their jawing not only earlier in the game but from the team’s first game.

“Maybe I should have focused on using my size and getting in front of the net instead of some of the extracurricular stuff but, at the same time, that’s something I want to continue doing,” said Kreider, who has elevated his physical play as the season has progressed.

The lethargic Maple Leafs lost both ex-Devil David Clarkson and defenseman Carl Gunnarsson to first-period injuries.

The Rangers altered their lineup slightly, inserting defenseman Michael Del Zotto for Conor Allen after the rookie played the previous three games.